Chapter 623 - 253: It’s Free Anyway, So It Doesn’t Hurt to Believe a Little (2)

Chapter 623: Chapter 253: It’s Free Anyway, So It Doesn’t Hurt to Believe a Little (2)

The mere thought of it was enough to make True Monarch Can Ye gasp.

But when he recalled how Xiao Chen spent Spirit Stones like water at the auction, as if they were worthless, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.

True Monarch Can Ye had heard before that Hidden Dao Lineages, due to their small populations, followed an elite path of high investment when nurturing their successors.

The second possibility was that Xiao Chen was simply a genius Cultivator with exceptionally strong Divine Sense.

That would explain how he withstood the enhancing effects of the Cloud Cliff Cyan Leaf and quickly regained his clarity.

However, based on True Monarch Can Ye’s observation, Xiao Chen seemed to have returned to normal in less than a single breath’s time.

If that were true, it could only mean that the strength of his Divine Sense had reached an astonishing level.

Not only did it far exceed that of Cultivators at the same Realm, but it might even be comparable to an Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator who had just broken through.

HISS... The thought of this possibility shook True Monarch Can Ye to his core.

’This is just damned terrifying, isn’t it!’

’Good heavens, it seems this little probe has uncovered something incredible.’

’Hmm, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions just yet.’

True Monarch Can Ye pondered for a moment. Although the probability was low, what if it was all just some kind of misunderstanding?

He decided to alter his planned conversation on the spot and add another test.

With a quick turn of his eyes, he thought of a good idea.

.

"Young friend, you may not know this, but I don’t have many hobbies. My only real passion is collecting ancient artifacts."

As True Monarch Can Ye spoke, he reached under the table and brought out a box.

Xiao Chen looked closely and saw it was the very same Purple Heaven Starlight Box he had sold at the auction.

’Aha! So the Commerce Association really did plant a shill in the audience!’

He clearly remembered the Purple Heaven Starlight Box being bought by a Loose Cultivator at the auction.

But now it had reappeared here, which meant they were definitely all in it together.

"Ahem. Before you arrived, young friend, I was already admiring it carefully."

True Monarch Can Ye, still unaware that Xiao Chen was thinking about shills, continued on his own, "From my inspection, this box seems to be part of a set?"

"Alas, my professional curiosity has been piqued, and I simply must find an answer."

"If you know anything about it, young friend, I hope you can enlighten me."

Of course, while he was asking about the box, his real focus was on its origin.

Hearing this, Xiao Chen understood immediately.

’So he’s the expert Kuang Ruihong mentioned. He called me up here because of this box.’

’Huh!’

’You’re all in it together... Does that mean the old man was lying when he told me the box was only worth fifty thousand Spirit Stones?’

Suspicious, he shot a furtive glance from the corner of his eye at True Monarch Can Ye, who was sipping his tea.

However, True Monarch Can Ye was also secretly observing Xiao Chen and immediately caught that glance.

He was in the middle of a test, so when he detected the suspicion in Xiao Chen’s eyes, he instantly grew solemn, thinking his intentions had been seen through.

’Damn, are all young people this sharp nowadays?’

’My act was so good, yet he still saw right through me on the spot?’

"This box is indeed part of a set of twelve, corresponding to the Twelve Zodiac Palaces."

Xiao Chen replied cautiously, "However, I don’t usually pay much attention to this sort of thing, so as for anything more, I’m afraid I wouldn’t know."

He truly didn’t know much about it; he couldn’t have said more even if he wanted to.

But to True Monarch Can Ye’s ears, these words were laden with subtext.

From his perspective, Xiao Chen first specified the number of boxes and their symbolism, proving he was in fact knowledgeable about these things.

Then, he deliberately expressed his lack of concern for such "minor matters," implying that his family had so many similar items that he didn’t need to care about their origins.

His final claim of not knowing was, in fact, a subtle counterattack.

The key was in the nuance.

The implication was, ’I already see that you’re testing me.’

’I originally knew more, but *because* you’re testing me, *now* I don’t know anymore.’

Furthermore, True Monarch Can Ye also noted Xiao Chen’s composed demeanor from start to finish, neither servile nor overbearing.

This showed he had strong confidence, which indirectly reflected his extraordinary origins and complete lack of fear of him.

In truth, this was Su Li’s fault.

Xiao Chen had originally held Nascent Soul True Monarchs in great awe, but after spending a few months with Su Li, he had been completely demystified.

After all, Su Li never put on the airs of a True Monarch in her daily life.

So, without even realizing it, his initial reverence for other Nascent Soul True Monarchs had faded.

Add to that the fact that Xiao Chen had the Blade of Night as his life-saving trump card, he naturally spoke with confidence.

The worst-case scenario was simply running away.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Since coming to the Eastern Domain, Xiao Chen had gained quite a bit of experience when it came to fleeing.

"So it really is a complete set. It seems my judgment isn’t so bad after all, haha."

True Monarch Can Ye chuckled, then changed the subject. "Since you’ve shared this information with me, young friend, allow me to give you a piece of information in return."

He actually had two choices now.

The first was to put Xiao Chen in his place, make him recognize his status as a Nascent Soul True Monarch, and then call out the person backing him to negotiate.

The other was to proceed as he’d initially intended and disregard their respective statuses.

He could proactively do Xiao Chen a favor, fostering a bit of goodwill for the future.

After careful consideration, True Monarch Can Ye decided to ease the tension instead.

After all, based on his deductions, Xiao Chen likely hailed from a family-style inheritance, not a sect-style Dao Lineage.

Therefore, intimidating the direct descendant of such a family would be rather impolite and could easily leave a bad impression on both sides.